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Tuesday, November 26, 2013

Interview with Author Laura Kaye and Giveaway

Meet author Laura Kaye.

Laura is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author a dozen books in contemporary and paranormal romance. Growing up, Laura’s large extended family believed in the supernatural, and family lore involving angels, ghosts, and evil-eye curses cemented in Laura a life-long fascination with storytelling and all things paranormal. She lives in Maryland with her husband, two daughters, and cute-but-bad dog, and appreciates her view of the Chesapeake Bay every day.

Places to find Laura:
Site | Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Newsletter Sign Up |


HARD AS IT GETS is one steamy read! How did you first get into writing?
Thanks so much! And thanks for having me here! I’ve been a writer all my life. I’m a historian by training, so writing non-fiction was a part of my job for the fifteen years I worked as a college professor. But I started writing fiction in 2008 in kind of an unusual way. I hit my head on July 4, 2008. I didn’t think much of it that day, but soon after I realized I’d really hurt myself, and it turned out I had a minor traumatic brain injury. As I recovered, I was filled with an amazing urge to be creative, so I started taking guitar lessons (still not very good at that!) and wrote my first novel in 12 weeks (fortunately, I’m better at that LOL!). The experience of writing that first book was truly transformative. It was what I was supposed to be doing, so I revised that book until it sold and kept writing new ones. And I haven’t looked back since!

Why did you choose to write romance?
I had been an avid reader of paranormal romance for years at that point, so I wrote what I loved. But I also picked romance—unconsciously, I think—because to me it’s an incredibly hopeful genre. Romance stories are inherently stories about people who can’t find love or think they don’t deserve it who overcome the odds and find it in the end. In the years leading up to starting writing, I experienced a number of very hard personal losses, so writing in this genre was one way I worked through those issues.

What does “Hard Ink” refer to? What importance do tattoos play in your story?
Hard Ink is the name of the Rixey brothers’ tattoo shop in the Hard Ink series. Nick and Jeremy Rixey are co-owners, though Nick (the hero of book one, Hard As It Gets) prefers to be more of a silent partner, despite Jeremy’s efforts to put Nick’s artistic talents to work. In this series, tattoos are a way people remember, pay penance, or highlight what’s important to them. The act of creating permanent marks on skin has deep meaning to them. And the shop creates a gritty setting where diverse kinds of people meet and interact in the series. I really love it!

Describe Becca—what do you love most about her? And Nick?
I’d love to! Because I really loved writing these characters!

Becca Merritt is smart and strong and honest and protective. I really loved the way she was willing to stand up for those she loves, even against people and forces who might be stronger and even a little scary. There’s a scene in particular when she dresses down Nick’s Special Forces teammates after a fist fight where I was particularly cheering for her! LOL

Nick Rixey is, omg, so freaking hot, you guys! He’s brooding and tortured and honorable and when he falls he falls so hard. I especially loved Nick’s mix of hard, alpha edges with his artistic side. When Nick shows Becca what her idea for a tattoo might look like on her skin, it’s just scorching!

What significance does the military play in the book?
Military themes are central to the whole Hard Ink series. The military isn’t just sexy window dressing nor is it just there to provide an intriguing backstory. The prior SF guys are this series are entirely defined by their military experience good and bad. It informs their identity, their sense of honor and duty, their view of the world, and of course gives them the skill set required to fight the battles they face in the series. The overall series mystery the characters are working to solve revolves around a military conspiracy in Afghanistan, so even though they’re out of the Army, the military themes are central.

If you could describe your book in a 140 character tweet, what would it be?
In #HardAsItGets, an ex-soldier joins forces w/his dead commander's daughter to regain his tarnished honor & save her brother from a gang

Is there a particular author or book that has influenced your writing?
There are a number of authors that have influenced me, but if I had to pick one it would be J.R. Ward. A lot of what I know about how to write sexy, authentic male point of view comes from reading her books. And I definitely learned the importance of a good bromance to a romance novel from her Black Dagger Brotherhood series, too. Given my ginormous fangirling, you can only imagine how flipping excited I was when this happened:

“Edgy, sexy, and full of suspense! A great read from a great new author!”
~J.R. Ward on Hard As It Gets

You guys, I bawled like a baby in the middle of a huge workshop put on by my publisher. For real. LOL

What advice would you give aspiring writers looking to get into the publishing industry?
Here’s my advice:
  1. Write, write, write. You can’t revise what you haven’t written and you can’t sell what you haven’t written. And the psychological and emotional boost you’ll get from writing “The End” for the first time cannot be overestimated.
  2. Revise, revise, revise. That first time you type “The End”? Yeah, you’re nowhere near done. Your book will need to be edited, by you, several times before you ever put it in front of an agent or editor. You get one shot with them, so don’t waste it by not showing them your very best and most polished work.
  3. Find critique partners. And your mom, siblings, and best friend do not count (unless you’re really lucky, like me, and your best friend happens t also be a professional author). You need other aspiring writers in your genre who will give you honest but constructive feedback about how to improve your manuscript. Let them catch all the embarrassing goofs and plot holes you thought you caught before it gets to an agent or editor.
  4. Want to be a professional, then act it. And by that I mean join the professional organization(s) of the genre in which you write. Through them you will find classes to help hone your craft, critique partner match-ups, networking opportunities, calls for submission, and other opportunities invaluable to breaking into publishing.
  5. Don’t give up. You will hear way more no’s than yeses, particularly early in your writing career. Stick with it. Believe in yourself. Give yourself one day to wallow in the rejection and eat a bunch of chocolate and then get right back on the horse. If your first book doesn’t sell, chalk that up to learning and write a second.

What can fans of HARD AS IT GETS look forward to next?
I’m currently writing four series: two contemporary (Hard Ink, Heroes) and two paranormal (Hearts of the Anemoi, Vampire Warrior Kings). I’ll have books from all four of those releasing in 2014. My next release is Hard As You Can (Hard Ink #2) coming 2/25/14!


Five dishonored soldiers.
Former Special Forces.
One last mission.
These are the men of Hard Ink.

Tall, dark, and lethal...

Trouble just walked into Nicholas Rixey's tattoo parlor. Becca Merritt is warm, sexy, wholesome--pure temptation to a very jaded Nick. He's left his military life behind to become co-owner of Hard Ink Tattoo, but Becca is his ex-commander's daughter. Loyalty won't let him turn her away. Lust has plenty to do with it too.

With her brother presumed kidnapped, Becca needs Nick. She just wasn't expecting to want him so much. As their investigation turns into all-out war with an organized crime ring, only Nick can protect her. And only Becca can heal the scars no one else sees.

Desire is the easy part. Love is as hard as it gets. Good thing Nick is always up for a challenge...

Purchase: | Amazon | Kindle | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository | iTunes |



Check out the Hard Ink series:
Click for info.


Check out what's up for grabs.

Up For Grabs:
  • 1 print copy of Hard As It Gets

To Enter: 
  • Leave a comment or question for Laura Kaye.
  • US shipping ONLY.
  • Please fill out the Rafflecopter form.

Good Luck! 

Special thanks to Laura Kaye & Avon for sponsoring this giveaway.
a Rafflecopter giveaway



31 comments :

  1. Congrats on the new release, Laura! I can't wait to read it. Do you have any new audiobooks coming out any time soon?

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  2. Is the best way to find the professional writing organizations a simple web search? I love your writing style and have enjoyed your interviews. Thank you for taking the time to share some advice with your followers.

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  3. Is the best way to find the professional writing organizations a simple web search? I love your writing style and have enjoyed your interviews. Thank you for taking the time to share some advice with your followers.

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  4. Is the best way to find the professional writing organizations a simple web search? I love your writing style and have enjoyed your interviews. Thank you for taking the time to share some advice with your followers.

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  5. Laura,
    Congratulations on the release of "Hard as it Gets!" I have been anticipating reading this book for months and it's here!

    If you could meet anyone, living or dead, for a dinner party - table of 6 to 8 - whom would you choose and why?

    ~Michelle
    http://nursewannabeinfl.com

    mmmazuros at yahoo dot com

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  6. I can't wait to read it. Thank you.

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  7. Congrats on new release. Can't wait to read

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  8. Congratulations on the new release Laura! I can't wait to read it! It's on my kindle and ready for when I finish the book I'm on right now. I'm a huge fan of yours and have recently won a signed copy of One Night With a Hero. Woo hoo! You might recognize my name from Facebook (Marcy Whittington Meyer), I'm always commenting on your posts. lol I am beyond in love with Hearts in Darkness! Would love to get all your books for my collection!

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  9. This series sounds so so awesome! I can't wait to get my hands on it!

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  10. Congrats on your new release Laura. The book looks really good and I enjoyed the trailer.

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  11. Congratulations on your new release! I was first introduced to your work when I read and loved Hearts In Darkness. I think this will be another book that will be perfect for me. =D

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  12. Congrats to laura on the new release! love, love, love her books :) Thanks for sharing!

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  13. I absolutely love your books! I cant wait to read this one!!! :)

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  14. Can't wait to read this book!!!! Love Laura's books!

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  15. This sounds fantastic! I love that there are romances surrounding "inked" heroes now. :)

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  16. This sounds yummy. I'm really looking forward to East of Ecstasy also. Happy Thanksgiving.

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  17. Congratulations on the release of "Hard as it Gets!" I have been anticipating reading this book for months and it's here!

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  18. I have read most of Laura Kaye's books but this is definitely her best book yet. I can't wait for the rest of the series.

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  19. I've been hearing about this book a lot on Facebook. It's definitely in my TBR list.

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  20. This is an awesome addition to your book series coklection and I can't wait to get my hands on it. Your FB party rocks!

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  21. Congrats on the new release.
    I love the mix of military, tattoos and alpha males. It sounds like an amazing book and I'm anxious to read it.

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  22. this sounds like a very exciting series!

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  23. Oh my, what a way to become an author. So sorry for your injury and I'm sad you didn't do as well with your music, but I'm really glad you were better at writing. Thanks for sharing. lisagk(at)yahoo

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  24. I look at the guy on the cover and think that must have hurt getting that tattoo on his back. Ouch!

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  25. I love military heroes. Tattoos are totally hot!

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  26. I've been looking forward to this book. I keep hearing such wonderful things about it. It is a definite buy!

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  27. I love Laura Kaye! I've watched her grow from her first book to having her books published by Harlequin! So proud of her....she is one of my favorite authors.

    Barrie

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  28. Congrats on the new release! I've been seeing this one around the blogs and it looks awesome. I can't wait to read this series. Thanks for the chance to win.

    mlawson17 at Hotmail dot com

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  29. Hi Laura! What drew you to writing about military characters? Is there someone in your life that inspired it or is there a movie or another film that sparked an idea in you?
    Thanks for the giveaway!

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  30. Congratulations on this latest release! Loved watching the video & learning a little more about you & the book. I'm looking forward to reading it!

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  31. Congrats on the new release! I am new to your books. I enjoyed the video and I look forward to reading HARD AS IT GETS.

    Thanks for hosting the giveaway. Fingers crossed to win.

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